Cowl Restoration
#1
Cowl Restoration
After years of looking at fading, chalky plastic, I decided to paint the cowls with a plastic paint. Took about 2 hours total. I think it came out pretty good.
Steps:
Put wipers in highest position on glass-turn ignition at highest point. Remove plastic cap on wiper arm. Remove nut. Use gear puller to remove arm.
Disconnect washer hose on passenger side of engine bay where it enters cowl.
Gently unclip cowl at engine side. Remove two push-pin style clips holding cowl down-one on each side. Reach hand under cowl and gently pry upward, there are aprox. 5 clips on each side.
Careful to disconnect washer tubing going to driver side cowl. Clips will remain on the body. Twist them and remove them. These get put back on the cowl before re-installation.
Remove washer head and tubing-take pictures for reference.
Wash cowls with simple green or preferred de-greaser. Rinse thoroughly.
Wipe down with denatured alcohol-this removes armol all or other treatments.
Tape off rubber weather stripping portion of cowl.
Spray with 3-4 light coats of plastic paint of your choice-I used Valspar gloss black. Make sure it's for plastic. Again, light coats in sweeping motion. Heavy coats will be very apparent. I waited 7 minutes between coats. Paint your wiper arms with preferred paint while you are at it.
Reinstall next day.
Steps:
Put wipers in highest position on glass-turn ignition at highest point. Remove plastic cap on wiper arm. Remove nut. Use gear puller to remove arm.
Disconnect washer hose on passenger side of engine bay where it enters cowl.
Gently unclip cowl at engine side. Remove two push-pin style clips holding cowl down-one on each side. Reach hand under cowl and gently pry upward, there are aprox. 5 clips on each side.
Careful to disconnect washer tubing going to driver side cowl. Clips will remain on the body. Twist them and remove them. These get put back on the cowl before re-installation.
Remove washer head and tubing-take pictures for reference.
Wash cowls with simple green or preferred de-greaser. Rinse thoroughly.
Wipe down with denatured alcohol-this removes armol all or other treatments.
Tape off rubber weather stripping portion of cowl.
Spray with 3-4 light coats of plastic paint of your choice-I used Valspar gloss black. Make sure it's for plastic. Again, light coats in sweeping motion. Heavy coats will be very apparent. I waited 7 minutes between coats. Paint your wiper arms with preferred paint while you are at it.
Reinstall next day.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
kegger66
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
19
08-09-2016 08:17 AM